Cuomo calls the shots in State of the State

Governor controls who is in, who is out, in a day marking start of legislative session

By RICK KARLIN and JIMMY VIELKIND Capitol bureau

Published 12:23 am, Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Photo: Shannon DeCelle

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo controls who will attend the annual State of the State address Wednesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo controls who will attend the annual State of the State address Wednesday.

Photo: Shannon DeCelle

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, talks Tuesday with aide Lee Park at the Capitol. Cuomo delivers his first State of the State address on Wednesday and is set to announce the first of several mergers of agencies that he promised during his campaign. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) less

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, talks Tuesday with aide Lee Park at the Capitol. Cuomo delivers his first State of the State address on Wednesday and is set to announce the first of several mergers of agencies that he ... more

Photo: Mike Groll

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Trooper Robert Schlegel and his canine partner, Alex, conduct a search before the media is allowed to enter the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State speech January 5, 2011. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) less

Trooper Robert Schlegel and his canine partner, Alex, conduct a search before the media is allowed to enter the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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After a sweep of the facility, the public is allowed to enter the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State speech January 5, 2011. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) less

After a sweep of the facility, the public is allowed to enter the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State speech January 5, 2011. (Skip ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Trooper Jeff Dovigh's canine partner, Matti, takes a brief rest after conducting a search of the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State speech January 5, 2011. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) less

Trooper Jeff Dovigh's canine partner, Matti, takes a brief rest after conducting a search of the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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After a sweep of the facility, the public is allowed to enter the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State speech January 5, 2011. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) less

After a sweep of the facility, the public is allowed to enter the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany before Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes his first State of the State speech January 5, 2011. (Skip ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

Cuomo calls the shots in State of the State

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ALBANY -- The annual State of the State address gives the governor a chance to lay out his agenda for the coming legislative session.

But this year, the logistics of Wednesday's 1:30 p.m. speech have lobbyists and even lawmakers wondering about the state of their relationship with newly elected Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In addition to serving as a policy primer, the State of the State functions as the central event in a daylong political homecoming and schmoozefest that marks the beginning of a new legislative session. It's the first opportunity for elected officials, lobbyists and advocates to get some pre-session face time with one another.

Cuomo has argued that moving to the larger convention center will allow members of the public to attend, one of several symbolic actions he has taken at the outset of his administration to signal a new era of openness.

More Information

How to follow the governor's speech

Online: Follow coverage throughout the day and talk back about Andrew Cuomo's first State of the State address at http://timesunion.com and the Capitol Confidential blog at http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol.Watch a live webcast of the address at Capitol Confidential or the governor's website, http://www.governor.ny.gov.

TV, radio: Live coverage of the speech begins at 1:30 p.m. on WMHT Ch. 17, with "New York Now" hosts Matt Ryan and Times Union state editor Casey Seiler. The speech will also be carried on YNN, WAMC 90.3 FM and other local outlets.

Twitter: Follow minute-to-minute updates from the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tucapcon. Seiler will answer questions after the address at http://vyou.com/CaseySeiler

But insiders view the shift as a signal to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver that Cuomo is calling the shots. Perhaps more important than the venue itself, the move has given Cuomo control of the distribution of tickets to the event -- something that used to be the province of Silver's office.

That development has left many lobbyists who were regular attendees in years past wondering if they'll be able to attend. "We haven't heard anything," said one prominent downstate lobbyist who as of midday Tuesday was unsure if he would have a ticket. "It used to be through the Assembly."

There are approximately 2,000 seats in the center, and the Cuomo administration said about 1,000 are going to the public through an online lottery.

Late Tuesday, Cuomo's aides said the ticketing process was still ongoing. The leader of one organization head said he received an invitation Tuesday morning -- with a request to RSVP by 1 p.m.

Administration officials said lawmakers were also being allocated tickets to give out, but it wasn't clear how many tickets legislative leaders received. Tuesday afternoon, Silver spokeswoman Sisa Moyo said the speaker's office was still working out the details.

Silver has moved his storied post-address buffet reception from the Assembly parlor room to a large meeting room across the hall from the convention center -- a change one lobbyist said may have been done to ensure a good crowd after the speech. A sparse turnout, the lobbyist added, could tend to make the speaker look weak.

Some lawmakers -- including Albany's Assemblyman Jack McEneny, a Democrat -- have criticized the move, but others are welcoming it. Considering the current political climate, there's little political downside to slighting lobbyists or other special interests.

Also new this year: Silver as well as Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos will make brief remarks prior to Cuomo's speech. They will be introduced by Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy.

In his address, Cuomo is expected to return to many of the themes familiar from his campaign, possibly including more tough talk for special interests such as public employee unions. He has already announced his plans to seeks a one-year freeze on salaries for state workers under his control.

The governor may call for constraints on fund-raising and lobbyist campaign contributions during the legislative session, along with more timely disclosure of political contributions. As in his inaugural address, he is sure to emphasize his push for a property tax cap.

Much of the speech will focus on what Cuomo sees as the need to reinvent state government through efficiencies and consolidations.

"We're going to hear a specific, operational prescription for moving this state forward and managing the government correctly, (dealing with) many of the management, operational problems we've faced," Cuomo said Tuesday on WGDJ Talk 1300 radio.

Cuomo also alluded to the need for a "new agency to protect consumers and police Wall Street. ... That riddle has to be solved."

Planning for the event suggests it will be tightly stage managed.

The many doors to the convention center have been closed for the past several days as workers set up the stage and three giant video screens behind the dais.

Also Tuesday: About 20 people representing organizations around New York held a "People's State of the State" to deliver a message they don't expect to hear from the governor's lips: "Tax the rich, don't starve the poor," as one sign put it.

"This is not a deficit caused by excessive spending; it is a deficit caused by a lock of revenue," said Mark Dunlea, executive director of the Hunger Action Network of New York State.